title: [Clinical features of primary HHV-6 and HHV-7 infections].
abstract: Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), a T-lymphotropic herpesvirus, belongs to one of two variants, A or B (HHV-6A and HHV-6B). HHV-6B is the cause of exanthem subitum (ES) which had a wide spectrum of related illnesses in the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and blood cells including fatal outcome, however, a clear etiologic role has not been identified for HHV-6A. HHV-6 is ubiquitous and primary infection with the virus almost always occurs before the age of 2 years. On the other hand, human herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7), isolated from CD4+ T lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of a healthy individual has been recognized as a new lymphotropic herpesvirus. The virus was distinct from the six previously identified human herpesviruses and had limited homology to human cytomegalovirus and HHV-6 by both molecular and immunological analyses. Healthy adults frequently shed the virus into saliva, and children are infected at a young age but somewhat later than HHV-6B. The primary infection with HHV-7 is linked to febrile illness with or without rash that resembles ES. A consensus is needed on whether the term should be used only for clinical features by primary infection with HHV-6 or for clinical syndromes featuring febrile exanthem by various infectious agents including HHV-6, HHV-7, enteroviruses, etc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Fujita Health University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suga
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ihira
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn